I grew up in Strongsville, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. I moved to Cleveland to attend Case Western Reserve University, where I studied chemical engineering and was highly involved in several campus organizations. After graduation, I jumped right into my Ph.D. program at Princeton University in the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department. When I am not in EQuad or the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, I enjoy working out, cooking, and spending weekends in NYC.

"Over the course of my time at Princeton, I have grown increasingly interested in learning about how scientists can engage with government and participate in policymaking on both a collective and individual basis. Through the Princeton Citizen Scientists and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, I have had multiple opportunities to travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with congressional offices to either advocate or lobby.

The GradFUTURES mentorship program connected me with an outstanding alumni mentor in Washington, D.C. who has helped show me the value of Ph.D. scientists in government and policymaking.

My most significant connection to GradFUTURES was my participation in the mentorship program in the summer of 2019. The program connected me with Mike Fisher, Ph.D. at the Federation of American Scientists, who continues to this day to be a cherished mentor and friend. Through Mike, I could get up close and personal to a field, organization, and potential career trajectory that I otherwise would not have had access to. I'm extremely grateful for this mentorship and hope others will similarly benefit by engaging with GradFUTURES!"

I have participated in the following GradFUTURES Programs:

• GradFUTURES Learning Cohort
• GradFUTURES Mentorship Program